Flag

A flag is a piece of cloth or fabric, usually with four corners, made in distinctive colors and design and then attached to a pole or staff. It is used to represent the identity of a country, group, institution or company. The flag is among the most widely recognized symbols indicating ownership of a place or thing.

Flags work on a simple principle: colors and recognizable symbols can be seen from a distance. For this reason, flags were historically used as equipment to distinguish military units and naval vessels. Today, national flags are governed by formal rules specifying their size, colors and the manner in which they should be displayed.

Parts of a flag

The side of the flag nearest the pole is called the hoist; the opposite free side is typically the fly. The design consists of solid colors, stripes, or a central symbol such as a star, crescent, tree or shield. The ratio of length to width (for example 2:3 or 1:2) is an important aspect of flag design.

National flags

Every independent nation has a national flag. It is displayed at government headquarters, embassies and international sporting competitions. When a leader or notable person dies, many countries lower their flag to half-mast for a designated period. Political change such as independence or the establishment of a new government is often accompanied by a new flag.

Other uses

Beyond national governments, flags are used by regions, cities, universities, religious organizations, political parties and companies. At sea, ships carry a flag indicating the country in which they are registered. There are also flags with specific meanings: a plain flag indicating a ceasefire, and colored flags used to signal sea conditions or traffic safety.

The study of flags

There is a discipline that studies the history, design and law of flags. It examines the origins of colors, the meaning of symbols, and how flags have changed over time. It also documents the rules governing the honor of the flag: how it should be raised, how it should be lowered, and how it should be treated when multiple flags are displayed together.